Potential Solution to Poverty

Chapter six of Wilson's book took a remarkable shift. Massey and Denton are so different from Wilson. While Massey and Denton are focused upon racial factors Wilson focuses his argument upon how socioeconomic factors impact neighborhoods which in the process effect race. This difference in the opportunity that each race is afforded is an unfortunate product of capitalism, at least according to Wilson. Wilson's purpose is to "show not only the complexities of the issue currently associated with race and to explain why they cannot be firmly grasped by focusing solely or even mainly on racial discrimination but also that it is necessary to move beyond race-specific public policy to dress the problems of the truly disadvantaged" (Wilson 138).
This is so different than Massey and Denton's approach. Massey and Denton focus on public policy helping shape how race is seen in contemporary America. Massey and Denton believe that we should focus our efforts upon policies that racially discriminate and in the process segregate Whites from Blacks. They believe that if it were not for White racism segregation would largely disappear and neighborhoods would be on similar playing fields. Unfortunately these public polices have lead to racism with a smile. This racism can be seen through redlining and blockbusting. So, sadly it seems that public policy cannot stop racism. Racism will persist as long as people choose to discriminate.
So perhaps the one way to stop racism is to help impoverished neighborhoods economically. At least this is the approach Wilson would most likely take. The underclass experience high unemployment, high out-of-wedlock births as well as welfare dependency (Wilson 139). This is in contrast to "normal" neighborhoods that largely do not experience these issues. So, it appears that if companies were to open businesses in these impoverished neighborhoods perhaps it would force these neighborhoods to stop segregation. After all, everyone needs employment. So it seems that if these impoverished neighborhoods were to have businesses open that people would apply for jobs. The applicants wouldn't just be one race, everyone needs employment so a business being in an impoverished neighborhood would not stop people of different ethnicity's from applying for the job. At least, it seems Wilson might argue this.
Likely there is no perfect solution to stopping racism, its a personal decision that each individual makes. This decision is often made consciously. I agree when Wilson says that "Any significant reduction of the problems of black joblessness and the related problems of crime, out-of-wedlock births, single-parent homes, and welfare dependency will call for a far more comprehensive program of economic and social reform than what Americans have usually regarded as appropriate or desirable. In short, it will require a radicalism that neither Democratic nor Republican parties have as yet been realistic enough to propose" (Wilson 139).
So it seems that the bill that would fit should be one that gives these underclass neighborhoods jobs that would reduce the unemployment rate. If the unemployment rate is reduced welfare dependency will be reduced. Also if unemployment is reduced, families will likely start to look like middle-class families.
Most likely this approach is not the be all end all bill. Likely there are problems with it. But just because something may not work should not prevent people from trying. Perhaps the government should try this in only a couple neighborhoods and see what happens. If it were only implemented in a couple of neighborhoods the financial cost would not be so large and the potential gains are truly large enough to make the government consider it. Hopefully the government will try this approach, the drawbacks don't seem to be very big and the benefits are very large.